Elephant Conservation | Half & One Week Programs | Chiang Mai | Thailand
Join our elephant conservation program at Journey to Freedom, an ethical elephant sanctuary project, located in the remote jungles of Northern Thailand to spend time helping to support and care for a herd of elephants. Embark on an amazing adventure as part of a small group of visitors, where you will have the chance to spend an unforgettable half week or full week with a family of elephants, including mothers and their young – observing them in their natural habitat – socializing with each other, foraging on native plants, taking mud baths, and cooling off in the stream. Participants also have the chance to learn about Karen hill tribe culture and traditions.
After the 1989 ban on logging, many Karen people felt they had no choice but to lease their elephants to trekking camps where they were often mistreated and overworked giving rides to tourists and performing in shows, eventually resulting in physical and psychological injuries. Journey to Freedom was created to make it possible for the Karen family to bring their elephants home to live in the jungle near their village where they can enjoy a more natural existence within a family herd.
Herd at Journey to Freedom
By joining the Journey to Freedom program you’ll have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of elephants and people in the local community. Visitors help to care for the elephants by planting and cutting grass for the herd, preparing medicinal health balls, as well as helping with other projects designed to improve the lives of the elephants. This program includes a couple of days when you will hike into the jungle with a picnic lunch and spend the whole day observing the elephants doing what comes naturally. The terrain can be uneven and steep in sections and slippery in the rainy season. A qualified English-speaking tour guide will be with you to guide you through the days and provide information about the elephants and their ways.
One-week participants also teach English to young children at the local school, visit the local Royal Project farms and a big Buddha statue at nearby temple. On your final evening, a Buddhist blessing ceremony will be held by the Karen elders in thanks for your participation and support of the elephants.
By visiting Journey to Freedom, you are supporting the shift towards responsible, ethical elephant tourism that is sustainable over the long term and allows for these beautiful elephants to live a more natural life as well as supporting the local Karen hill tribe people.
Experience the privilege of observing a family of elephants interacting and foraging in their natural jungle habitat while helping to care for the herd and supporting the local Karen community
Highlights
- Experience spending time in the jungle with rescued elephants in the natural habitat
- Observe the elephants foraging, taking mud baths, cooling off in the stream and interacting as a herd
- Get to know the elephants and their individual stories
- Gain insights into the behaviors and habits of the elephants
- Help care for the elephants by cutting grass and preparing food for them
- Learn about the traditions and ways of the Karen hill tribe people
- Enjoy delicious vegetarian Thai dishes freshly prepared daily
- Meet travellers from around the world and work together on projects that support the elephants
- Blessing ceremony in thanks for your support of the elephants and the project
- Positively impact the lives of the elephants living a more natural life and the local Karen people
Half Week Program at Journey to Freedom
Half Week Program Activities
- Hike into the jungle and spend time with elephants in their natural habitat
- Observe the herd foraging, interacting & doing what comes naturally
- Get to know the elephants & gain insights into their habits and daily rituals
- Plant and cut grass and prepare food for the elephants
- Make special herbal health balls from rice, banana, tamarind, rice husks, salt & a special vine from the Tinospora Cordifolia tree
- Visit the local village and learn about Karen hill tribe culture & traditions
- Learn about shade grown coffee or rice cultivation depending on the season
- Enjoy delicious vegetarian Thai dishes freshly prepared daily
- Blessing ceremony in thanks for your support of the elephants & the project
Journey to Freedom
One Week Program at Journey to Freedom
One Week Program Activities
The first 4 days include the same activities as the Half Week Volunteer Program
- Hike into the jungle and spend time with elephants in their natural habitat
- Observe a close knit family herd wandering in the forest, foraging and socializing
- Gain insights into the background, behaviors and habits of the elephants
- Plant and cut grass and prepare food for the elephants
- Make herbal health balls from rice, banana, tamarind, rice husks, salt & a vine from Tinospora Cordifolia tree
- Visit the local village and learn about Karen hill tribe culture & traditions
- Work on various projects such as fixing the road & building water tanks
- Learn about shade grown coffee, roasting techniques & plant coffee (seasonal)
- Find out about rice cultivation, planting & harvesting rice depending on the season
- Vist the local Royal Project farms and learn about the cultivation of various fruits and vegetables
- Teach English at the local school to young children one morning
- Visit the big Buddha statue on top of a hill at Wat PhraThat Chinwong
- Enjoy delicious vegetarian Thai dishes freshly prepared daily
- Blessing ceremony in thanks for your support of the elephants & the project
Journey to Freedom
Journey to Freedom Program Details
Number of Participants for Half & One Week Programs: 15 people
Number of Elephants: 6
Tour Type: One-Week & Half-Week Elephant Conservation
Duration: Monday to Sunday (7 days / 6 nights) and Monday to Thursday (4 days / 3 nights)
Fitness Level: Moderate to Challenging
Age Suitability: Adults 16+
Journey to Freedom Program Contribution
Half Week Program (Adults 16+): 10,000 Baht – Half Week (4 days / 3 nights)
One Week Program (Adults 16+): 15,000 Baht – One Week (7 days / 6 nights)
* Minimum of 3-4 participants required to open the Journey to Freedom program *
What's Included
- Transportation from your hotel in Chiang Mai city on Monday to our office and to the project and back to Chiang Mai on Thursday or Sunday
- Simple shared traditional style wooden housing accommodation with beds, bedding with mosquito nets, shared toilets & one hot water shower
- Three freshly prepared vegetarian buffet style meals provided daily, snacks, water cooler with filtered drinking water, tea and coffee
- Admission fee & insurance
- Qualified English-speaking guide
Book to Journey to Freedom One Week / Half Week Program
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Reviews from Visitors
How You are Helping by Visiting Journey to Freedom
- Support elephants living a more natural life in their jungle habitat near the project where they are free from riding and performing in shows
- Care for the elephants by planting and cutting grass and preparing food for them, including medicinal health balls
- Help protect the forest by tying blessed sashes around trees to stop them from being cut down and planting saplings in the rainy season
- Work with Karen people on various projects designed to enhance the lives of the elephants and improve the sanctuary
- Teach English to young students at the local school
- Support Karen women from the local village by purchasing their textiles
- Help to care for animals at the project including some puppies
What to Bring
- Change of clothes for 4 or 7 days, long pants, long-sleeve shirts, shorts, t-shirts, gardening gloves & hat
- Sandals / flip flops, walking shoes / sneakers or hiking boots
- Sunscreen, insect repellent, toiletries & personal medication
- Camera, flashlight & AIS SIM card for the best mobile coverage
- Clothing suitable for cool weather in the cold season (Nov-Feb)
- Clothing suitable for wet weather in the rainy season (July-Oct). You will be provided with ponchos, umbrellas & rubber boots but not in all sizes
- Gifts for the local school students such as pens, coloring pencils, notebooks, story/coloring books, games & toys (optional)
Tips on Local Culture & Location
- There is no wi-fi connection at Journey to Freedom and mobile phone coverage is limited. We reccomend you get a Thai SIM card from AIS which proivdes the best coverage in this location. True can get some coverage but there is no coverage for DTAC.
- This is a remote location so please bring all necessary medications and articles of convenience
- Please respect the local culture by dressing modestly – no sleeveless tops, short skirts/pants, swimsuits or bikinis
- The use of illegal substances / drunken behavior is not permitted at the project
Participants Requirements
Participants at Journey to Freedom should be reasonably fit and be prepared to hike into the jungle on some days in hot humid conditions, along uneven paths that can be steep in sections and quite muddy and slippery, especially in the rainy season. You will also be required to cut grass, prepare food for the elephants, plant coffee / saplings / rice in the rainy season, and tie sashes around the trunks of trees in the dry season to protect the elephant’s natural habitat. The project is located in a remote area, near the jungle where there are mosquitoes and other bugs. Journey to Freedom is suitable for adventure seeking travellers who are prepared to stay in simple rustic accommodation on the edge of the forest and ‘rough it’ a little.
Elephants at Journey to Freedom
Visitors at Journey to Freedom
Journey to Freedom
Thanks to Jennie from Jennie of the Jungle for the photos of her group at Journey to Freedom in November 2023
Location, Accommodation & Meals
Nature in the Jungle
Ethical Elephant Support Program
This is a small Saddle Off project with a limited number of guests. Our model is based on ensuring the well-being of the elephants, which means no riding or other unnatural activities.
About Journey to Freedom
Start: Monday 8:00am – 8:30 am – we will pick up from your hotel in Chiang Mai city and bring you to our office. If you are staying outside the city center you will need to arrange your own transportation to our office. Participants can pay the outstanding balance for your trip, complete an insurance form, and provide a copy of your passport at our office. The minivan will leave our office at 9:00 – 9:30 am to travel to Journey to Freedom.
Travel Time: Around 2.5 – 3 hours (safety talk en route to project).
Transport Details: Transfer from an air-con minivan to a 4WD pickup for the last 20 minutes of your journey to the project.
Return: Arrive back in Chiang Mai city on Thursday afternoon at 3:00 pm for the half-week program and on Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm-1:30pm for the one-week program. We can drop you at your hotel or take you directly to Chiang Mai airport.
Duration: One week program – Monday to Sunday and Half week program – Monday to Thursday
Accommodation: Participants stay in shared traditional style wooden housing. There are beds in the rooms each with a mattresses under a mosquito net and bedding is provided. One shared room has 6 beds and the other room has 5 beds. One hot water shower, 2 cold water showers and 3 shared toilets are located near the houses. There are 2 traditional style bamboo bungalows at the entrance of the project for couples with a shared bathroom downstairs. Electrical outlet plugs are available for charging devices in all rooms.
Facilities: Dining area overlooking rice paddies with hammocks, gift shop, coffee & tea, cold water dispenser. Bottled water, soft drinks, and beer are available for purchase at the project.
Items Provided: Rubber boots & ponchos in the rainy season.
Baggage / Luggage Allowance: One standard check-in sized rucksack / suitcase / bag & one day pack per person.
What to Bring: Change of clothes for 7 days, long pants and long-sleeve shirts, shorts and t-shirts, gardening gloves, hat, sunscreen, sandals/flip flops, walking shoes or hiking boots, towel, camera, insect repellent, flashlight, toiletries & personal medication.*Bring clothing and items suitable for wet weather if visiting in the rainy season (June – Nov). If visiting in the cool season (Nov – Feb), bring some clothing suitable for cold weather. If you would like to bring items for the local school students (aged 2-5 years old) such as pens, coloring pencils, notebooks, coloring books, story books, A4 paper, games, toys, etc. they will be much appreciated.
Travel Insurance: Participants are required have travel insurance covering medical expenses and emergency repatriation.
Vaccinations: Please contact your doctor or vaccination center in your country for details on recommended vaccinations.
Operational Months: All year round.
Age Suitability: Adults 16+ (participants younger than 18 years of age must be accompanied by a legal guardian).
Fitness Level: Moderate to challenging – capable of hiking into the jungle, along uneven terrain with some steep sections, which can be in muddy and slippery especially in the rainy season (June – October) and working on various projects designed to improve the lives of the elephants.
Topography: Jungle, mountains, hills, grassland, rice paddies & stream.
Location: Mae Chaem, South of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.
Nearest Airport: Chiang Mai (CNX) – we recommend you stay in Chiang Mai city the night before your volunteer week begins. Please note that we cannot collect you from Chiang Mai Airport – only from your Chiang Mai city hotel or guesthouse.
Booking Details: Bookings close 3 days before you are due to visit. When booking online, a 30% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking. The balance can be paid by cash or credit card (+3%) at our Chiang Mai office on Monday morning – the day your trip to Journey to Freedom begins.
Project Background
The owner of this project Boothu, is a Karen man who has lived around elephants from a young age. He was born in Mae Chaem and grew up learning about elephants from both his grandfather and father who worked with and cared for elephants. The older elephants at the project have been in his family for his entire life. The project is run with the help of Boothu's wife, Air as well as some family from the nearby Karen village. Journey to Freedom is home to 6 female elephants - Non Pong, also known as Mae Bu Sii (born 1982) and her two daughters - Baby Luna (born Dec 2024) and Gee Lee (born 2017), Honey, also known as Mae Yui (born 1990) and her daughter, Buay (born 2010) as well as Boo Jhan (born 1968) the eldest elephant at the project. The 3 older elephants used to do logging and riding in the past and Nong Pon and Honey performed in shows also. The younger elephants Gee Lee and Buay have never worked. Since coming to live at Journey to Freedom the elephants health and well-being have improved thanks to being able to roam in their natural jungle habitat, interact freely as a herd, and simply be elephants.
The Herd at Journey to Freedom During Covid Times
The Covid-19 pandemic lock downs severely impacted tourism, and there were no volunteers at Journey to Freedom for over two years. During this time, the elephants spent their days in the jungle, foraging on natural vegetation, taking mud baths, cooling off in the stream, and interacting as a herd. With no income from visitors, it was difficult for this small ethical elephant project to meet the high costs of caring for the elephants, providing them with sufficient food, and paying the mahout’s salaries. Thanks to the generous support of US based NGO, Trunks Up, and their supporters, Journey to Freedom was able to meet the needs of the elephants and ensured they received a healthy diet as well as the occasional treat of baskets of fruit and vegetables, which the herd always appreciated.
Thank You for Supporting the Herd at Journey to Freedom
The Covid pandemic caused severe challenges around the world and placed extreme limitations on travel. As a result, Journey to Freedom was closed from March 2020 and only began to welcome back volunteers in mid 2022. We would like to thank all the kind people who supported the elephants during this difficult time.
How Journey to Freedom is eco friendly & sustainable
- Project grows grass and bananas for the elephants and the elephants are able to forage in the jungle.
- Supports the local community by buying bananas & sugarcane from nearby farmers for the elephants and vegetables for the guests.
- Forest protection program - volunteers are invited to tie blessed ochre colored sashes around trees in the forest to protect them from being cut down and in the rainy season plant saplings.
- All crops are grown organically – no chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used.
- Elephant dung is composted in a large pit and given to local farmers to fertilize their crops.
- Rubbish is recycled and left over food and scraps are given to the pigs in the local village.
- Project structures incorporate natural materials including bamboo, farmed wood, and leaf roofing.
